Tax Year 2015: Things you should starting preparing for now.

Because of inflation adjustments required by law, the standard deduction, personal exemption and many other important tax numbers for the coming year will increase. Here are a few changes that will affect federal income-tax returns for the 2015 tax year, to be filed in 2016:

The basic standard deduction for 2015 will increase to $6,300 for single taxpayers (and married people filing separate returns) from $6,200 for this year. For married couples filing jointly, it will rise to $12,600 from $12,400 this year.

But before you automatically choose the standard deduction, check to see whether you would be better off itemizing your deductions, such as charitable gifts.

The standard deduction for those who qualify as “head of household” will rise to $9,250 from $9,100.

The amount and income thresholds for the earned income tax credit, a program designed to help the working poor, will change. For example, the Internal Revenue Service said the 2015 maximum earned income credit amount will be $6,242 for taxpayers filing jointly and who have three or more qualifying children, up from a total of $6,143 for tax year 2014.

Planning to move and work overseas? For 2015, the foreign earned-income exclusion will be $100,800, up from $99,200 for 2014.

The personal exemption will be $4,000 for 2015, up from $3,950 for 2014. But, as the IRS points out, this is subject to a phaseout that begins with “adjusted gross incomes of $258,250 ($309,900 for married couples filing jointly).” The exemption “phases out completely at $380,750 ($432,400 for married couples filing jointly.)”

People who make more than a certain amount get hit by a limitation on itemized deductions. For next year, that limit begins with incomes of $258,250 or more, or $309,900 for married couples filing jointly.

The federal estate-tax exclusion will rise to $5.43 million next year from $5.34 million this year.

Separately, many upper-income workers will owe slightly more next year in Social Security taxes. The reason: The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase to $118,500 in 2015 from $117,000 this year, the Social Security Administration said. That reflects an increase in average wages.

Of the approximately 168 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes next year, about 10 million will pay higher taxes because of this change, the SSA says.

IRS says 2015 Tax Season could be delayed for 2014 tax filings.

Americans might have to wait longer than usual to receive their tax refunds in 2015.

The IRS is waiting for lawmakers to act on expired tax provisions called extenders. If Congress fails to resolve the issue by the end of November, that could delay the 2015 tax season — and therefore push back the date when refund checks start to get cut and sent out.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said the agency is currently upgrading its systems, which will help streamline the tax filing process.

“Continued uncertainty would impose even more stress not only on the IRS, but also on the entire tax community, including tax professionals, software providers, and tax volunteers, who are all critical to the successful operation of our nation’s tax system,” Koskinen wrote in a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

“If Congress waits until 2015 and then enacts retroactive tax law changes affecting 2014, the operational and compliance challenges would be even more severe — likely resulting in service disruptions, millions of taxpayers needing to file amended returns, and substantially delayed refunds.”

Wyden responded with a statement posted to the committee’s website, urging lawmakers to take action and not risk delays in next year’s tax season.

“It has been over six months since the Finance Committee passed the EXPIRE Act with strong bipartisan support,” Wyden said in the statement. “As the 2015 tax season begins to loom large, it is more urgent than ever that Congress moves in a decisive and bipartisan way to renew expired tax provisions that will give taxpayers the certainty they need to plan their finances.

“According to the IRS, the longer Congress delays action the greater risk that the tax filing season and millions of taxpayer refunds will be delayed, among other serious disruptions. As the economy begins to show signs of strength, uncertainty from the federal tax code is the last thing American businesses and families need as they look to grow and invest. Congress needs to act swiftly on these important tax provisions so it can get to work on a comprehensive overhaul of the tax code and lift the fog of uncertainty from taxpayers.”

If Congress does not act, more than 50 tax breaks worth almost $85 billion will not be available in 2015. Congress is slated to return to Washington Nov. 14, after the midterm elections.

This is why 2015 Tax Refunds Could Be Delayed. We will update the 2015 IRS Refund Cycle Chart as soon as we are given the official word that refunds will be processed later in 2015. Like us on Facebook and bookmark are site to get the latest tax schedule news.

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Tax Season 2015 starts January 23rd 2015.

The I.R.S is expected to start accepting 2015 tax returns as of January 23rd, 2015 per the 2015 IRS Refund Cycle Chart. This doesn’t mean that you will not be able to submit your 2014 tax return to the I.R.S before then though. All of the I.R.S. tax forms are usually available by January 5th (2015). If filing by January 23rd, 2015, check our 2015 IRS Refund Cycle Chart to see when you will get your return back. Also if you will owe taxes in 2015, this can give you an idea of the earliest date that you would need to pay them. Tax Season 2015 will begin very soon, so the time to start preparing is now.

DISCLAIMER: This is merely an estimate based on prior year(2014). We do not guarantee this date and the I.R.S. does not release official dates to the public.